Girl Scouts of Colorado is celebrating extraordinary volunteers throughout the state in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month. Vicki Tussey of Colorado Springs in the Pikes Peak region is a shining example of the wonderful role Girl Scout volunteers play in the lives of girls and our community.
GSCO asked Vicki to answer a few quick questions about her volunteer experience. We hope you find her as inspiring as we did.
Why did you become a Girl Scout volunteer?
I became a volunteer in 2013 when my youngest daughter was a Daisy.
Tell us about your different volunteer roles as a Girl Scout.
I started off as a co-leader for the Daisies in Troop 3893. I would plan the meetings and run the activities for the Daisies. I was a co-leader for two years before changing Girl Scout troops. In 2015, I became a co-leader for Troop 4000. My role within Troop 4000 was to help out with the activities and chaperoning on field trips. Then in 2016, my daughters joined Troop 2821. In that troop, I helped out as one of the cookie managers within our troop. In 2017, I became the service unit manager for Service Unit 22.
What have you learned as a Girl Scout volunteer?
As a parent of a Girl Scout, I never knew how much the leaders and the co-leaders did for the girls. It wasn’t until I became a co-leader myself did I realize how important the role was.
I have learned how important it is to work one-on-one with each of the girls, be there for them, and take the time to listen and answer any questions they have.
The hardest role I ever had was being one of the cookie managers. I learned how to be patient with the parents and understanding when financial issues came up.
As a service unit manager, I’ve learned it’s important to be available to provide resources and answer any questions a leader or co-leader may have. It’s also important to plan a monthly meeting for our leaders within our service unit. I never realized how important these meetings were until I started to attend them. It gives our leaders the opportunity to talk about experiences they’ve had within their troop and time to ask questions and to request help if a problem arises.
What do you hope girls have learned from you?
The one thing I hope the girls have learned from me is, it is OK to ask questions.
How has your experience as a volunteer helped you become a G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader)?
It all started with volunteering with Girl Scouts for me. I have learned that I can be a leader for our Girl Scouts. That it is fun to try new things like, indoor skydiving or sleeping at a zoo. I can make a difference within my community by volunteering with not only the Girl Scouts but with many other organizations.
Want to nominate a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Colorado to spotlight? Please email Public Relations Director AnneMarie Harper at annemarie.harper@gscolorado.org.
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